PNG Cruising: Development progressing at Alotau

[Sandielle]

From Post-Courier, Friday 10th May 2013

 

Governor happy with preparations for Aussie cruise ship

 

MILNE Bay governor Titus Philemon has expressed delight at the progress being made on the preparations to host the first cruise ship by Carnival Australia in early November.

Mr Philemon particularly lauded the work being undertaken by the PNG Ports Corporation to extend the Alotau port with the construction of a new berthing, land mooring and new decking on the existing port.

K40 million is being spent on this project and when completed, it will add 290 metres of berthing space, making it the largest port of call in the country for cruise ships.

The rebuilding of the Alotau port infrastructure compliments the hydrographical survey that is being conducted by Carnival Australia in the province.

The survey is funded by Ports PNG and involves the sea bed around the Trobriand Islands from which navigational charts will be produced to guide cruise ships to move safely in and out of islands. Apart from Alotau, the cruise ships will also visit Kiriwina and Kitava Island.

On its part, the Milne Bay Provincial Government has allocated K100, 000 for preparatory workshops and training of local operators and tour guides.

The preparatory workshops and training is being undertaken by the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority and the Milne Bay Tourism Bureau.

The first of the Carnival Australia cruise ships, Pacific Dawn, will arrive in Alotau on November 4, carrying with it about 2000 tourists.

The popular Kenu & Kundu Festival, which celebrates its 10th festival this year, will be extended by a day to cater for the tourists coming ashore in Alotau town. The festival committee has decided that the festival will now run from November 1-4.

“I want to thank the National Government and also the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority for recognising the potential that Milne Bay Province has in tourism development. The decision to make Milne Bay as a major destination for cruise tourism is the right one,” governor Philemon said.

“I want to assure everyone that the people and Government of Milne Bay will play our part to ensure the cruise visits are successful. We have a lot of activities going on that will support the cruise tourism program, including the Samarai Restoration project,” he said.

The governor said because Milne Bay was regarded as a major tourist destination and because his Government understood the benefits that tourism could bring to the province, he had assured that his government would facilitate and support this development.

Milne Bay Province has also been selected by the National Government to pilot eco-tourism development because of its richness in culture, diverse wildlife, history and the best diving in the world.

“The best of everything that we can offer tourists is our hospitality and our peaceful and friendly nature as the people of Milne Bay,” governor Philemon said.

“The cruise ship project will compliment the eco-tourism focus our governments are pursuing. I am excited about this and hope that the project can also be extended to other parts of the province, as there is much to see and experience,” he said.

Samarai Island could regain its former “Pearl of the South Pacific” tag, with the provincial government finally allocating funds in the 2013 budget to begin rehabilitation of the historic facilities on the island.

[rugbypopsie]

It will be a real boost for the local people...glad to hear it. Hope the Png government moves faster than ours...lol

 

Sue

[Kiwi_cruiser]

It sounds like the PNG Government are looking forward to P&O visiting the region.

[rugbypopsie]

It will be a much needed economic boost for the locals.

 

Sue

[Sandielle]

Milne Bay launches Kenu and Kundu festival

Source: The National, Monday 27th May 2013

 

THE unveiling of a traditional sacred site on the shores of Alotau town, Milne Bay, accompanied by a traditional ritual last Saturday marked the launching of the 10th National Kenu and Kundu Festival.

Milne Bay Governor Titus Philemon, flanked by National Planning Minister Charles Abel and chairman of the festival, Peter Tarumuri, unveiled the stone totem of the sacred site called the Gahana, the traditional meeting place of chiefs and village elders of clans of mainland Milne Bay.

The launch signals the start of preparations, including fundraising activities, to stage the 10th National Kenu and Kundu Festival in November.

Speaking before unveiling the totem, Philemon said the Kenu and Kundu Festival had grown from humble beginnings in 2003 to become one of the feature cultural events in PNG.

He said the success of the festival over the past 10 years had been due to the hard work of the organising committees, the commitment and support of various organisations and more importantly, the people of Milne Bay.

“It is the peacefulness of our town and province and the friendliness of our people that are the biggest assets. These are the assets that not only draw tourists from all over the globe, but also attract investments and businesses to come to Alotau and Milne Bay.

“And these are the assets that I want all of us to protect and promote. Because if we lose them, we will lose everything – our culture and heritage,” Philemon said.

Philemon also praised the decision by the festival committee to extend the festival by a day to cater for the first visit by a Carnival Australia cruise ship, Pacific Dawn, which is expected to bring some 2,500 tourists to the shores of Alotau town on Nov 4. The festival will run from Nov 1-4.

Philemon presented K60,000 to the festival committee as part of the provincial government’s support. Another K40,000 will be released to the committee later on.

He said this was on top of the K100,000 already given to the Milne Bay Tourism Bureau to undertake awareness and training for the cruise tourism project, expected to rake in about K7 million per year for Milne Bay.

Abel said the National Government was strongly supporting Milne Bay in the drive to grow and enhance its tourism industry.